So, the first week of my placement is now over and the weekend has begun with a few glasses of wine with some ladies of my larvly flat. Its been such a good week, I have enjoyed it so much and learnt alot too.
The first day on Monday was just an introduction to what I was going to be doing, talking about who I would be working with, what problems may occur, the organisations policies and things like that. Warning you all now, you will have to get used to early mornings... I'm up at like half 6 every morning and have to leave for half 7. Some of my flatmates like Eric is up at 5 a.m. to be in for 7! :( It's still dark when I leave, so I set off in the dark and leave in the dark at 4 p.m. Anywho, I go to meet most of the people who I will be and am working with. As soon as I went in and introduced myself to them, I felt like I fitted in straight away and, as much as it is a cliche, welcomed in with open arms. Everyone is lovely there, and my mentor is a proper sweety. He is helping me so much and doing so much for me, like getting loads of information and stuff.
Tuesday was my first day in working with the service users, and it was really good. I worked with two service users on my own and the feedback I was given was that I worked really well and handled the different distractions really well, as someone kept interupting me when I was working with the other people. On the afternoon I working with the Literacy group, and as the main teacher (I guess I will call them for this task) wasn't in, they had a sub, so they did some work looking in TV mags for words. It was really interesting seeeing how they used different techniques to find the words, and how others found it quicker than others due to the techniques they used.
On Wednesday morning at 3.30 a.m., our fire alarm went off at flat 3. The whole block had to get out the building in the FREEZING COLD and wait for the firemen to come and turn the alarm off. It went off in a sodding International students room who said she was asleep. She better have been or I will have her guts for garters. I was so tired when I got in on the morning, but literally five minutes of everyone getting in I was put in a great mood and made a pie with the cooking group. It was oh so yummy too.
Thursday was the day of the carol service at the church. The service users used Makaton to sing 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', which, even though they were slightly out of time, it was amazing to watch. I was also in the kitchen helping out all day making a soup, and even though I wasn't really working with the service users, I was working with some of the staff and got to know some of them better which I think also helped as we started to build up a bit of a good relationship. That day was also good as I got to leave early :D
Today was really good, but again we didnt really do much work. However I got to chat to alot of the service users for ages which I think helped me as I got to practice being able to understand some of the service users. You see, some of the service users are hard to understand when they speak verbally, so as my mentor said, I have to give time for my hearing to adjust to the way they speak. We also made some Christmas Decorations which I actually have hung up on my ceiling as it is so rustic and pretty.
Overall, from jsut the first week I have learnt an awful lot. I have also started to pick up Makaton which is a mixture of speaking and signing. I think I have fitted in really well with the group and even though it isnt like most placements as you can tell, such as I havent actually done any medical stuff yet, and wont be at this placement. But to be honest, I dont care. I think Ive learnt just as much in this first week as anyone else being in a hospital. Mine just doesnt involve sticking needles in people's arses...
Friday, 11 December 2009
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
The Beginning of Something Fabulous...
So, this is the first time I have blogged anything, but I want to write this for other people who specifically are wanting to or are going to be studying Nursing at University. I have recently just started my course, well, in October to be specific, but I didnt know about this then so I shall write about the past two months now and then once a week I shall blog about the week I have had, whether its a rant about having too much work or about how hungover I am from another random night out... ENJOY! :)
Just some facts first...
My name is Sophie.
Im 19.
Degree is in Nursing (Learning Disability Branch)
Also, Just like to point out that as my course involves working with clients, I will be changing any names and not mentioning any places I have worked at. Just in case a lecturer reads this or anything and I will get into trouble. This is just mainly a way to rant (sometimes!) or to tell others what its like being a nursing student.
First Week:
Nothing really happened to be honest in my first week, as nursing students move in a week before anyone else does, or a few days before the International Students. First night involved ALOT of cleaning as the cleaners hadnt cleaned our flat; we were so annoyed that our first night wasnt filled with partying, vodka and shots, but with bleach, Cif and toilet cleaner.
The second night was really good, I was introduced to my new best friend- wine. White, Red, Rose, I drink it all now. We were also introduced to our neighbours, flat 4 next door. They are absolutely mental, coming round all dressed up whilst we were in our scruffs downing wine. That was also the first night I played the game 'Ring of Fire'. God almighty, I had a hangover the next day. Its where you put cards around in a circle with a glass in the middle of it. You then take it in turns to pick a card, and from the rules that you decide on, depending on the card you pick up, you have to do. So, say you picked up 5, you would have to put in 5 seconds worth of alcohol or whatever drink you have. If you get an Ace, you have to down whatever is in the glass. It is vile. But bloody hilairious when you have had a few.
The third day was rather dull, but at 5AM on the Thursday morning the fire alarm went off. The International Students had moved in on the Wednesday, and obviously didnt know the rules, such as not allowed to smoke in your rooms or having candles on. One decided to have a cigarette AND forgot to blow their candles out so they set the alarms off and we all papped our pants and had to run outside. Two of my flatmates hadn't waited for us, and we banged on their doors for ages. So if it was real, I would be toast right now. Oh well.
The rest of the week went by in a blur, but the week after when everyone else moved in was our Freshers week. It was absolutely AMAZING. We had our Fresher's ball on the Monday, which was 'Circus of the Macabre' theme, so there was loads of circus acts and chocolate fountains and we got to meet Eoghan Quigg off 'the X Factor'. Pretty good shit. We had silent discos, Comedy night with Simon Bird off 'The Inbetweeners' on it, Block parties, Access all Areas where we went to all the different bars on Campus, Bar Crawls and other amusing parties. A blur of hangovers, sleeping in and boring first day lectures where we all fell asleep.
As our course is very intense (other people will say theirs are too, but if we dont get things right, we could end up killing someone, unlike a history degree student who looks at dead people and things that did happen.) with a blur of learning injection technique, blood pressure, moving and handling techniques and learning how to use a hoist. It sounds alot, and like its really hard, but its not. Just make sure you listen in the practical sessions and you really practice it when you can. Some of it you cant, such as Injection Technique, but thats ok, as when you are on placement you are meant to have a go at doing it on an actual person, instead of on a sponge. We also started to prepare to go on our first placement which I have just started on Monday. Its at a day centre near the university I am at, where I work with people who have learning difficulties. Its been amazing what I have been doing, such as learning Makaton, which is a type of language that people who have a learning difficulty use, and it involves part speech and part signing. I now know how to say the basics like 'good morning''good afternoon' and 'good evening' etc, and the beauty of it is as its mainly logical signs, its quite easy to do.
I think thats enough for now, Im sorry there isn't really much detail, but as I have been up since half 6 and driving around like a mad woman most of the day, so Im signing out for now!
Shall write on Friday to talk about my first week in much more detail!
Lots of love
x
Just some facts first...
My name is Sophie.
Im 19.
Degree is in Nursing (Learning Disability Branch)
Also, Just like to point out that as my course involves working with clients, I will be changing any names and not mentioning any places I have worked at. Just in case a lecturer reads this or anything and I will get into trouble. This is just mainly a way to rant (sometimes!) or to tell others what its like being a nursing student.
First Week:
Nothing really happened to be honest in my first week, as nursing students move in a week before anyone else does, or a few days before the International Students. First night involved ALOT of cleaning as the cleaners hadnt cleaned our flat; we were so annoyed that our first night wasnt filled with partying, vodka and shots, but with bleach, Cif and toilet cleaner.
The second night was really good, I was introduced to my new best friend- wine. White, Red, Rose, I drink it all now. We were also introduced to our neighbours, flat 4 next door. They are absolutely mental, coming round all dressed up whilst we were in our scruffs downing wine. That was also the first night I played the game 'Ring of Fire'. God almighty, I had a hangover the next day. Its where you put cards around in a circle with a glass in the middle of it. You then take it in turns to pick a card, and from the rules that you decide on, depending on the card you pick up, you have to do. So, say you picked up 5, you would have to put in 5 seconds worth of alcohol or whatever drink you have. If you get an Ace, you have to down whatever is in the glass. It is vile. But bloody hilairious when you have had a few.
The third day was rather dull, but at 5AM on the Thursday morning the fire alarm went off. The International Students had moved in on the Wednesday, and obviously didnt know the rules, such as not allowed to smoke in your rooms or having candles on. One decided to have a cigarette AND forgot to blow their candles out so they set the alarms off and we all papped our pants and had to run outside. Two of my flatmates hadn't waited for us, and we banged on their doors for ages. So if it was real, I would be toast right now. Oh well.
The rest of the week went by in a blur, but the week after when everyone else moved in was our Freshers week. It was absolutely AMAZING. We had our Fresher's ball on the Monday, which was 'Circus of the Macabre' theme, so there was loads of circus acts and chocolate fountains and we got to meet Eoghan Quigg off 'the X Factor'. Pretty good shit. We had silent discos, Comedy night with Simon Bird off 'The Inbetweeners' on it, Block parties, Access all Areas where we went to all the different bars on Campus, Bar Crawls and other amusing parties. A blur of hangovers, sleeping in and boring first day lectures where we all fell asleep.
As our course is very intense (other people will say theirs are too, but if we dont get things right, we could end up killing someone, unlike a history degree student who looks at dead people and things that did happen.) with a blur of learning injection technique, blood pressure, moving and handling techniques and learning how to use a hoist. It sounds alot, and like its really hard, but its not. Just make sure you listen in the practical sessions and you really practice it when you can. Some of it you cant, such as Injection Technique, but thats ok, as when you are on placement you are meant to have a go at doing it on an actual person, instead of on a sponge. We also started to prepare to go on our first placement which I have just started on Monday. Its at a day centre near the university I am at, where I work with people who have learning difficulties. Its been amazing what I have been doing, such as learning Makaton, which is a type of language that people who have a learning difficulty use, and it involves part speech and part signing. I now know how to say the basics like 'good morning''good afternoon' and 'good evening' etc, and the beauty of it is as its mainly logical signs, its quite easy to do.
I think thats enough for now, Im sorry there isn't really much detail, but as I have been up since half 6 and driving around like a mad woman most of the day, so Im signing out for now!
Shall write on Friday to talk about my first week in much more detail!
Lots of love
x
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